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Ozuye Ta Nagi Woasniye - Healing the Warrior Spirit Part 1 | Part 2 |
Part 3 - - - - - - - "Silao litsoo beehanii" Navajo Code Talker, World War II veteran Teddy Draper Sr., 82, of Chinle, Ariz., explained that phrase loosely translates to
"remember the ones in the yellow dresses," it's his advice for Veterans Day. The Code Talker's uniform, worn today for ceremonies, is a yellow shirt, often worn with a traditional belt. Draper's message refers to those he served with. ( as reported November 11, 2005 by the Farmington Daily Times.) - - - - - - -
They were Allies to the Crown and faithful to the traditions of their forefathers.
They served with honour and distinction in all branches of the Service
And in every rank and appointment from Private to Brigadier.
They fought overseas to defend the sovereignty and liberty of allied nations
In addition to supporting the cause at home.
Hundreds from across Canada gave fully of their lives
So that all Canadians might know peace and inherit freedom.
Their dedication continues in Peacekeeping operations in far away lands.
To view close ups of various perspectives of the Canadian Aboriginal War Veterans Monument click on the images below
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Since 1901 Aboriginals Have Served Australian Military - - - - - - - Canadian Aboriginal men and women enlisted and fought alongside their non-Native countrymen. While they fought for freedom for others, ironically the Aboriginal soldiers were not allowed equality in their own country.
As a reward for fighting, the Canadian Soldier Veteran's Settlement Act allowed returning soldiers to buy land at a cheap price. However, many of the Aboriginal soldiers were never offered nor told about the land entitlement. Some returned home to find the government had seized parts of their own reserve land to compensate non-Native war veterans. Whole First Nations communities still mourn the loss of the thousands of acres of prime land they were forced to surrender. - - - - - - -
In Vietnam, more than 42,000 Natives fought the communist North Vietnamese. More than 90 percent of Native men and women who fought in Vietnam were volunteers, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Native veterans number about 190,000 today, and Native people have the highest record of service per capita when compared to other racial groups, according to U.S. government figures.
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Recognition and Respect
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"I can still hear the rat-tat-tat of the guns shooting at us, the splashes of the bullets around us as we came up the water on the beach and my friends falling in that water. But we had to keep moving or else we would get hit too,." Returning to Juno Beach, France 2003 / Metis Veteran Frank Godon ,Sr.
"American Indians and Alaska Natives have a long tradition of serving with pride and accomplishment in the United States Armed Forces. Today, their patriotism is reflected in the more than 13,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives serving on active duty and the more than 6,400 reservists. In Iraq, Specialist Lori Piestewa a member of the Hopi tribe, and the Army's 507th Maintenance Company was the first American servicewoman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the only known American Indian woman killed in action in any conflict. Her bravery, service, and sacrifice are an inspiration to our men and women in uniform and to all Americans." November 2003, U.S. President George Bush.
Aboriginal Veterans Day Nov.7th, 2003 Goldstream on Vancouver Island Youth danced and drummed to honour the Warriors. They created wreaths from freshly folded forest ferns and laid them in the stream while nearby, salmon were swimming on their way to spawn. Some survived. Some didn't.
Click on Numbers to see more images 12345678910
In the 20th century, five American Indians were among those soldiers to be distinguished by receiving the United States' highest military honor: the Medal of Honor. Given for military heroism "above and beyond the call of duty," these warriors exhibited extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy and, in two cases, made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Jack C. Montgomery. A Cherokee from Oklahoma, and a First Lieutenant with the 45th Infantry Division Thunderbirds. On 22 February 1944, near Padiglione, Italy, Montgomery's rifle platoon was under fire by three echelons of enemy forces, when he single-handedly attacked all three positions, taking prisoners in the process. As a result of his courage, Montgomery's actions demoralized the enemy and inspired his men to defeat the Axis troops.
Ernest Childers. A Creek from Oklahoma, and a First Lieutenant with the 45th Infantry Division. Childers received the Medal of Honor for heroic action in 1943 when, up against machine gun fire, he and eight men charged the enemy. Although suffering a broken foot in the assault, Childers ordered covering fire and advanced up the hill, single-handedly killing two snipers, silencing two machine gun nests, and capturing an enemy mortar observer.
Van Barfoot. A Choctaw from Mississippi, and a Second Lieutenant in the Thunderbirds. On 23 May 1944, during the breakout from Anzio to Rome, Barfoot knocked out two machine gun nests and captured 17 German soldiers. Later that same day, he repelled a German tank assault, destroyed a Nazi fieldpiece and while returning to camp carried two wounded commanders to safety.
Mitchell Red Cloud Jr. A Winnebago from Wisconsin, and a Corporal in Company E., 19th Infantry Regiment in Korea. On 5 November 1950, Red Cloud was on a ridge guarding his company command post when he was surprised by Chinese communist forces. He sounded the alarm and stayed in his position firing his automatic rifle and point-blank to check the assault. This gave his company time to consolidate their defenses. After being severely wounded by enemy fire, he refused assistance and continued firing upon the enemy until he was fatally wounded. His heroic action prevented the enemy from overrunning his company's position and gained time for evacuation of the wounded.
Charles George. A Cherokee from North Carolina, and Private First Class in Korea when he was killed on 30 November 1952. During battle, George threw himself upon a grenade and smothered it with his body. In doing so, he sacrificed his own life but saved the lives of his comrades. For this brave and selfless act, George was posthumously award the Medal of Honor in 1954.
- - - - - - - " As individual fingers we can be easily broken, but all together we make a mighty fist." Chief Sitting Bull - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Warrior Societies in Contemporary Indigenous Communities" by Taiaiake Alfred and Lana Lowe (NOTE: this is a .pdf file)
Recognition
